Transcript Highlights:

• </c> spoke on the floor spoke on the floor almost<00:27:07.880><c> as</c><00:27:08.040><c> much</c><00
• So, Topper stopped on the bottom rung of the floor of the stairs and I was on the floor and I started
• </c> that is up on the third floor. that is up on the third floor.
• </c> floor and I started talking to him. floor and I started talking to him.
• Um, we have considerable...

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, he appreciates the time allowed to present this and the consideration given.
• And again, that is, he appreciates the time allowed to present this in the consideration given Sincerely
• The bill came before a committee yesterday, the day before, and it'll be going to the Senate floor.
• If it successfully comes off the floor there, it'll be publicly debated on any level, and any revisions
• We'll have it there, and the process will go once again to the House floor.

Summary: The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission met on April 17, 2026, with a quorum present, adopted the agenda and prior minutes, and then focused primarily on chronic wasting disease (CWD) management in light of a new positive deer detection in Washington Parish. Staff explained that the March 11 declaration of emergency expanded the CWD control area into portions of Washington and surrounding parishes, including parts of Morehouse, Union, Lincoln, and Jackson, and that the emergency rule remains in effect for 180 days unless rescinded earlier. The commission also discussed the task force’s report and recommendations, but the chair indicated those recommendations would be tabled pending legislative action on Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 (SCR 24)."} 0}

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you. Are there any committee questions?
• So, thanks again for your consideration, and I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you.
• And to the audience, this is a preview of the floor session when this bill.
• I'm guessing it's a considerable amount.
• Tune in for the floor session. Any closing comments from the author?

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• You also have the floor, Mr. Harabedian.
• Item number one, SB 6, the floor is yours. Thank you so much. The floor is yours.
• So I am very appreciative of your consideration of this bill.
• The floor is yours, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much, Mr.
• Sharp Collins, the floor is yours.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills, with testimony split between supporters who framed the measures as targeted fixes and opponents who warned about overcriminalization and unintended consequences. SB 701, by Senator Wahab, drew support from law enforcement and local government groups, who said state law lacks a tool to address the conduct at issue; the ACLU opposed it as duplicative of existing law, while public defenders said they may withdraw opposition after amendments. Because there was no quorum at that point, the bill was held open without a vote. SB 834, by Senator DeRazzo, was presented as a technical cleanup bill to improve California’s automatic record clearance system by preventing outdated “pending” charges from blocking relief, requiring local court records to match DOJ records, and creating a way for people to obtain proof of relief. It received broad support from criminal justice reform and defense organizations, with no opposition, and the chair indicated support, but no final action was taken during the hearing. SB 248, by Senator Rubio, would require DOJ to send new gun purchasers educational materials during the waiting period about safe storage, suicide prevention, domestic violence, and related resources; supporters called it common-sense education, while one opponent argued the information is already available. The committee voted the bill out on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, but it remained on call pending one additional vote. Senator Rubio’s SB 19, the Safe Schools and Places of Worship Act, would create a new offense for credible threats against schools or houses of worship even when no specific individual is named. Supporters, including law enforcement and Jewish community advocates, said current law leaves a loophole and that the bill would help prevent panic and resource-draining lockdowns; opponents from civil liberties and youth justice groups argued existing law already covers threats and that the bill would worsen the school-to-prison pipeline. After a motion and second, the committee voted due pass to Appropriations, with the measure also left on call. Later, SB 759 by Senator Archuleta, prompted by the killing of Whittier Officer Keith Boyer, would require a court hearing after a third supervision violation or new offense for people on post-release community supervision; supporters said it adds accountability, while opponents said it removes probation discretion and could increase jail and court burdens. The bill passed due pass to Appropriations and was reported as passing. The committee also heard SB 6 by Senator Ashby, which would schedule xylazine as a controlled substance while preserving veterinary use. Supporters, including veterinarians, law enforcement, and a parent who lost a son to a drug-related death, said the drug is increasingly present in fentanyl mixtures and needs to be controlled; opponents from drug policy and civil liberties groups argued scheduling would criminalize users, hinder research, and repeat failed drug-war policies. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out due pass to Appropriations, and it passed. Finally, SB 11, the AI Abuse Protection Act, was introduced to regulate AI-generated voice, image, and video replicas, with supporters emphasizing protection against deepfakes and nonconsensual images; the California Chamber of Commerce opposed unless amended, seeking narrower definitions and limits on consumer warnings. The hearing ended while SB 11 was still under discussion, with no final vote reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and the second floor of that facility.
• The top floor, we don't think that it will be in the budget to renovate that floor, but we do think that
• there will be sufficient funding in the budget to prepare that floor for a later phase of renovation
• . be in the budget to renovate that floor be in the budget to renovate that floor but<00:11:44.639><c
• So, just a few of the operational considerations.

Summary: The committee heard an overview from Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Randy White on the state’s juvenile detention network and several facility projects. He identified the currently operating detention centers as Boyd County for females, Breathitt County for low-risk males, Fayette County for high-risk males, Adair County for high-risk youth from Jefferson and surrounding counties, Warren County for high-risk males, and McCracken County for low-risk males. Members asked about capacity and staffing; White said Boyd County houses 33 and is usually near full, Breathitt County is about half full, Fayette County runs about 80-90% full, Campbell County’s operational limit is about 25 due to staffing, Adair County can hold 60 and has hit capacity several times this year, Warren County holds 43 and usually runs near capacity, and McCracken County holds 43 and is not currently full. He said staffing is generally harder in higher-risk facilities and in metropolitan areas because of wages and housing costs. White then updated the committee on the Louisville Detention Center downtown renovation and the Lyon facility project. For the Louisville downtown facility, he said schematic design and design development are complete, construction documents are expected by late February or early March, bids are anticipated in April, and completion is projected for March 2027. He explained the delay is due to extensive renovation work needed to bring the building up to current building, life-safety, ACA, and PREA standards, including security, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, food service, and roof work. The project is designed for 64 beds for high-risk Jefferson County boys, with the facility currently vacant and those youth being housed in Adair County and Campbell County. For the Lyon project, he said the contract was issued November 21, 2024, demolition is underway, completion is expected June 14, 2026, and the facility will have 34 beds in four pods for low-risk offenders; he said the project appears to be on time and on budget within the $4.5 million authorization. The committee also discussed the medical services contract. DJJ officials said they are reviewing whether to continue with the current state contract provider, Wellpath, or pursue an RFP, while retaining current merit staff and continuing oversight through four nurse program administrators. They said DJJ uses a state master agreement to staff nurses, APRNs, and the chief medical officer, and that the current contract is about $20 million per year. Members asked about Wellpath’s bankruptcy filing; officials said they were aware of it, asked questions, and were told it would not affect Kentucky service delivery or contracting, though they could not recall the bankruptcy type and offered to provide more detail later. They also said DJJ is working with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to become a Medicaid provider, and any future contractual partner will need to be a Medicaid provider. Finally, White described the proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility. He said DJJ must accept court-ordered youth even when they have severe mental illness, but detention centers are not equipped to treat those youth and private psychiatric hospitals often refuse them or discharge them early. He argued that a dedicated secure treatment facility is needed for a small number of highly violent, high-need youth who require intensive psychiatric care and are disruptive in detention. The facility would provide behavioral and psychiatric treatment, reduce delays caused by lack of beds or outside placements, and serve youth determined by clinical assessment to need a secure treatment environment. No votes were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Consideration of the House bills on special orders shall include the Senate companion measures on the
• For consideration, please read the Senate message.
• We have this conversation, but I think it's important for the floor.
• The bill does not specify how immigration status is taken into consideration.
• The bill does not specify how immigration status is taken into consideration.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Parkland shooting victims, the Pledge of Allegiance, and adoption of the special order report for the day. The chamber then moved into a special-order agenda focused almost entirely on immigration-related measures, beginning with Senate Memorial 6C urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements. The memorial was adopted 85-27 after brief debate, with supporters arguing Florida should help maximize federal immigration enforcement and opponents saying Congress, not the state, should fix immigration policy. The House next took up Senate Bill 4C, an immigration bill creating new state offenses for illegal entry and reentry by adult unauthorized aliens and requiring a mandatory death sentence for an unauthorized alien convicted of a capital felony. Members debated constitutional concerns, due process, racial profiling, fiscal impacts, and whether the bill intruded on federal immigration authority. Several amendments were offered and defeated, including proposals to extend protections to Venezuelans with TPS, to remove the mandatory death penalty, to protect certain long-term immigrant workers and teachers, to expand exemptions for Haitians and humanitarian parole recipients, and to create a task force on best practices for immigration enforcement in schools and other sensitive locations. A final amendment to strip the bill as unconstitutional was also rejected. The bill then passed 85-29. The final measure discussed was Senate Bill 2C, which creates a State Board of Immigration Enforcement led by the Governor and Cabinet, establishes grants and incentive bonuses for local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, repeals the fee waiver for undocumented students beginning July 1, 2025, and appropriates more than $300 million for immigration enforcement. The sponsor described it as a broad enforcement package, while questions from members focused on the impact on current students who receive in-state tuition and whether the bill would remove incentives for those already enrolled. The transcript ends during that exchange, before final action on SB 2C is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, sir, for your consideration. Are there any questions?
• I appreciate your... favorable consideration. Chair leaves House Bill 5577 pending.
• Thank you for your consideration. I close. Chair... Chair leaves House Bill 3510 pending.
• I request favorable consideration, and I would close. Thank you. Thank you very much.
• I'm sorry, but I have the floor, and... I would also like to say that Ms.

Bills: HCR114 , HB137 , HB283 , HB1398 , HB1960 , HB2153 , HB2431 , HB2638 , HB2699 , HB2999 , HB3208 , HB3389 , HB3413 , HB3510 , HB3642 , HB3859 , HB3974 , HB3986 , HB4142 , HB4173 , HB4174 , HB4542 , HB4605 , HB4663 , HB4731 , HB5064 , HB5216 , HB5218 , HB5332 , HB5453 , HB5577 , HB137 , HB283

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: memorial, pedestrian bridge, Houston, Sergio Ivan Rodriguez, city council, oversize vehicles, transportation permits, Hidalgo County, port authority, highway routes, healthcare, insurance, mental health, treatment access, state funding, transportation, axle weight, aggregates, regulations, Texas law

Transcript Highlights:

• here for House Bill 2109 by Representative Van Dever, that bill will be after we come back from the floor
• It's a small step but an important one. thank you for your consideration.
• I ask for your favorable consideration.
• Would request consideration I would close. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Members any questions? No.
• We hear that on the floor all the last week. Anyway.

Bills: HB1523 , HB2109 , HB2694 , HB3525 , HB3898 , HB4646 , HB5188 , HB5219 , HB5320 , HB5651 , HB5655 , HB5659 , HB5662 , HB5672

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: aquifer conservation, Class V injection well, environmental regulation, groundwater protection, municipal water supply, temporary prohibition, water management, reservoir construction, state water plan, Texas Water Code, environmental impact, Brazoria Drainage District, commissioners, elections, vacancies, resignation, HB 3525, North Texas Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater permit, permit amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been advised by the sergeant at arms that we must go to the floor in 12 minutes.
• the floor will be.
• Thank you so much for your consideration.
• So thank you again for consideration. Thank you, ma'am. Any other speakers on this bill?
• Thank you for your consideration. Good job. Thank you, ma'am.

Bills: HB2244 , HB2364 , HB2573 , HB2749 , HB2862 , HB2870 , HB4117 , HCR2004

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: evictions, judgment satisfaction, tenant rights, landlord obligations, court procedures, abortion-inducing drugs, medical abortion, pharmaceutical regulation, felonies, state law, DUI, ignition interlock, substance abuse treatment, driving privileges, alcohol education, felony conviction, misdemeanor designation, court judgment, criminal justice reform, rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we'll pull this one too, and as we spoke about last week on the floor with term limits, maybe the
• So we'll see if it makes it to the floor. Love it, thank you. HB 2764, Holly. HB 2764, Holly.
• Thank you madam chair you see some presence on this bill because we are waiting for a floor amendment
• This Thursday at 11, we do have floor at 10.
• floor at 10, and then probably at 11 we will start the African American Legislative program.

Summary: The committee worked through a long Minority Caucus calendar covering a wide range of bills, with many items on consent and several pulled for discussion. Early items included resolutions on Judea and Samaria, bullion depository bills, a produce incentive appropriation, a biennial budget proposal, and a veterans services appropriation. Members also heard transportation-related bills on driver permits, citations, boat insurance, English proficiency for commercial drivers and motor carriers, photo enforcement, and a measure restricting incarceration for unpaid fines and fees. Several members raised concerns about constitutional issues, public safety, or whether bills were duplicative or targeted at specific groups. A large portion of the meeting focused on education and school governance bills. These included proposals on school district bond advisors, restrictions on school property leases and purchases, public meeting requirements, term limits and training for school board members, patriotic youth group access to students, computer science proficiency, and a bill requiring fingerprint clearance cards for traffic school instructors. Members repeatedly criticized what they described as inconsistent treatment of public schools versus ESA/private school programs, and several education bills were pulled from consent for further discussion. Other bills addressed child safety and family law, including DCS credit freezes, recorded child interviews, parents’ rights notices, mandatory reporting of threats by minors, sex offender residency and GPS monitoring, and a bill on guardianship rights during DCS investigations. The committee also considered a number of social services, health, and labor/consumer bills. These included SNAP work requirement and verification measures, a SNAP error-rate audit, dementia care telemonitoring funding, a Braille transcription appropriation, court fee limits, a physician assistant compact, pediatric licensure compact, and a kratom regulation bill. Members debated an earned wage access licensing bill at length, with opponents calling it predatory and akin to payday lending, while supporters argued it provided a regulated consumer option. Other measures covered cash acceptance by businesses, 529-to-Roth IRA rollovers, AI rules for state agencies, and a bill on public nuisance actions by the Attorney General. Several of these drew warnings about constitutional problems, preemption, or burdens on vulnerable populations. Energy, water, and tax policy also featured prominently. The committee heard bills on fuel formulations, gas tax relief, data centers and small modular nuclear reactors, utility reporting, and a Commerce Authority mandate to reduce fuel prices. Members criticized some proposals as favoring industry, preempting local control, or lacking a clear funding plan. The meeting ended after additional items on veterans, sample ballot mailing dates, and other miscellaneous measures, with multiple bills noted as pulled from consent or subject to later votes; no final roll-call results were detailed in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• General, you have the floor. Good morning, Mr.
• Chair, Senator Block, we discussed that we did have a considerable backlog for a period of time there
• So yeah, you have the floor, and you can begin when you're ready. Mr.
• The 20% kind of floors me. I thought it was higher.
• So, you have the floor, and you may begin. Good morning, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• It gives us some really good floor to start from for some minimum policies.
• </c> Currently under consideration.
• Thank you for your time and consideration.
• Thank you for your time and consideration, and I invite you to stop by a Patina anytime.
• Thank you for your time and consideration, and I invite you to stop by a Patina anytime.

Bills: HF962 , HF3541 , HF2936 , HF3762 , HF2879

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: Capitol security, public safety, emergency management, state buildings, law enforcement, corrections, legislative approval, rule-making, financial impact, jail regulations, expungement, firearm eligibility, criminal records, organized retail crime, retail theft, supply chain theft, theft enterprise, organized theft, cargo theft, shoplifting

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> committee processes or a floor hearing. committee processes or a floor hearing.
• <00:24:03.160><c> is</c><00:24:03.320><c> troubling</c> floor is troubling floor is troubling because
• Uh, we aren't sure why it hasn't come up on the Senate floor for advice and consent.
• It is very relevant that we take up these confirmations now on this floor.
• </c><02:40:31.240><c> because</c> amendment on the Senate floor because amendment on the Senate floor

Transcript Highlights:

• And currently, judges do take that into consideration under the existing statutes.
• . ...if it did come on the floor, I know you're against it in June.
• Those were not parts of the considerations that were set for...”
• “Those were not parts of the considerations that were set forth.
• Those were not parts of the considerations that were set forth.

Bills: SB1015 , SB1049 , SB1066 , SB1081 , SB1092 , SB1133 , SB1134 , SB1139 , SB1147 , SB1148 , SB1168 , SB1189 , SCR1001 , SCR1002 , SCR1005 , SCR1010

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: gender transition, detransition, healthcare liability, medical malpractice, youth protection, legal action, Arizona law, child safety, dependency cases, attorney regulation, foster care, legal representation, probation, dangerous crimes, children, Arizona Revised Statutes, criminal justice, juvenile offenses, rehabilitation, political signs

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have any questions as we move on to the floor, feel free to reach out. Thank you.
• Is there any consideration, I guess, to delay or why we... Coming up.
• Is there any consideration, I guess, to delay or why we wouldn't wait till after another election?
• It doesn't seem to have any consideration for those who are disabled, who often need assistance.
• It does not take that into consideration. We ask that you vote no and let the people speak.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The committee first took up CS for CS for CS for SB 462 on transportation, adopting a substitute amendment that would require counties receiving transportation surtax proceeds to report how the money is used, prohibit certain airport fees tied to collegiate flight training, create a Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority pilot program, and fund a traffic signal modernization program with $10 million annually from the State Transportation Trust Fund. The amendment also removed several provisions from the bill, including a sales tax transfer to the trust fund, a bid protest-related contracting requirement, and repeal of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. A late-filed amendment was tabled, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS for CS for SB 628, “Lucy's Law,” on boating safety, which would strengthen penalties for leaving the scene of a vessel accident and reckless vessel operation. Lucy’s parents gave emotional testimony in support, describing the fatal 2022 boating crash and urging stronger accountability. The sponsor withdrew pending amendments, and the bill was reported favorably. CS for CS for SB 700, the Florida Farm Bill, was next; the strike-all amendment covered a broad range of agriculture-related changes, including water fluoridation restrictions, labeling rules, drone restrictions over farmland, disaster recovery programs, an honest services registry, FFA-related provisions, and agricultural land preservation. Testimony included support from agricultural and gun-rights groups, opposition from banking, dental, and local-government advocates, and a lengthy public debate over fluoridation and financial discrimination. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 796 on general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems was reported favorably with little debate. The committee then took up CS for SB 1618 on K-12 education, adopting a delete-all amendment that combined a wide range of education provisions, including VPK flexibility, agriculture education, financial literacy, reading intervention requirements, teacher assignment reporting, restrictions on spending public funds on political or social activism, postsecondary and workforce-related changes, and other school and college system updates. Several speakers opposed the activism-related funding restriction, while the sponsor said the bill was intended to keep publicly funded schools focused on education; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 7016 on initiative petitions, adopting a strike-all amendment that would sharply tighten petition circulation rules and increase penalties. The proposal would require circulators to be Florida residents and U.S. citizens, impose training and registration requirements, shorten petition submission deadlines, require more identifying information on petition forms, limit sponsors to one amendment per election cycle, and create new enforcement and investigation triggers, including a 25% invalid-signature threshold. Sponsors argued the changes were needed to address fraud and protect the integrity of constitutional amendment petitions, while senators raised concerns about due process, public-records issues, burdens on volunteers, and the impact on voters and sponsors. The bill was not reported in the portion provided, and the discussion remained ongoing at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Chair, I was just going to say, I've seen these folks on the floor, on our very Senate floor, and
• So we appreciate your consideration. Thank you. Thank you very much.
• So thank you for your consideration of the bill.
• Thank you for your consideration of the bill. Mr.
• So I just wanted to say thank you for your consideration. Excuse me.

Bills: SB101 , SB58 , SB55

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 101, which would repeal the July 1, 2030 sunset on the Health Care Delivery and Access Act and make the hospital provider-tax program permanent. The sponsor, the Health Care Authority secretary, and the New Mexico Hospital Association said the program has generated substantial federal Medicaid matching funds and has supported hospital workforce, quality, and infrastructure investments, especially in rural areas. Members asked why the sunset existed originally and whether federal changes under H.R. 1 would phase the program down; the secretary explained the sunset was meant as a review point, but that federal law now prevents creating a new similar program if this one expires. The committee heard support from hospital and business representatives, no opposition, and voted due pass 7-0. The committee then considered Senate Bill 58, as amended, which extends the property tax abatement period for metropolitan redevelopment areas from a fixed seven years to up to 14 years. The sponsor and Albuquerque redevelopment officials said the change would give local governments more flexibility to structure projects based on financial need, while still preserving current tax payments and encouraging redevelopment of blighted or underused areas. Several supporters, including realtors and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, argued the longer window would improve certainty for developers and help spur housing and other reinvestment. Some members raised concerns about lost revenue for schools and whether the tool could be overused, but were told the program applies only in designated redevelopment areas and is intended to leverage future higher assessments. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended 7-0. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 55, which increases New Mexico’s state solar tax credit from 10% to 30% after the federal credit was reduced, and raises the individual cap from $6,000 to $15,000 while keeping the overall annual program cap at $30 million. The sponsor and numerous solar industry, business, and clean-energy advocates said the change is needed to prevent layoffs, stabilize the rooftop solar market, support local jobs, and preserve grid and affordability benefits for customers. Members asked about permitting, certification, consumer protection, and whether battery storage was included; the sponsor said the bill covers rooftop solar only, the credit is refundable, and EMNRD certifies systems before credits are issued. The committee heard broad support, no opposition, and voted due pass 7-0 before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• He appreciated the consideration.
• He appreciated the consideration.
• He appreciated the consideration.
• He appreciated the consideration.
• Thank should pass on the House floor.

Committee: House Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> floor</c><00:13:41.440><c> privileges</c><00:13:42.000><c> for</c> let's have floor floor privileges
• for let's have floor floor privileges for RSA<00:13:43.360><c> and</c><00:13:43.600><c> their</c><00
• is uh Senate have for your consideration is uh Senate Bill<00:34:16.879><c> 77.
• The next bill we have for your consideration is Senate Bill 77. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• The next bill we have for your consideration is Senate Bill 77.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to go uh a consideration I'm going to go uh a little<00:01:41.920><c> bit</c><00:01:42.119
• amendment that would add with a floor amendment that would add circuit<00:04:05.439><c> clerks</c><00
• Chair Elliott, I'm voting aye in the committee, and I may change my vote on the floor.
• He said the second offense is where it amps up considerably.
• </c><01:14:29.120><c> thank</c> to change my vote on the floor thank to change my vote on the floor thank

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 446, as amended by committee substitute, which would expand third-degree assault protections to cover judges and justices of the Court of Justice and public transportation drivers. Supporters said the bill responds to violence and threats against judges and would extend protections already given to other public servants. Members generally supported the bill, though several suggested broadening it further to include circuit clerks or all officers of the court. The committee adopted the substitute and favorably passed HB 446 on an 18-0 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 456, a DUI-related cleanup bill sponsored by Representative Patrick Flanery and presented by County Attorney Joe Ross. The bill would add fentanyl, Flexeril, and clopene to the per se DUI list, treat driving on a suspended license as an aggravating circumstance, revise implied-consent notice language, and make changes to ignition interlock rules, including suspension periods and fees. Representative Scott West of the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers testified in opposition, warning that some interlock violations and fees could unfairly extend suspensions and discourage participation, while members and the sponsor said the bill would strengthen DUI enforcement and that non-listed substances could still support DUI charges under other provisions. The committee adopted the substitute and favorably passed HB 456 by a 16-0 vote with one pass. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 10, relating to the rights of real property owners, sponsored by Representatives Maryanne Proctor and Emily Callaway, with testimony from a Pacific Legal Foundation representative and a Boone County Sheriff’s Office staff attorney. The sponsors said the bill is intended to address squatting by defining squatters and improving property-owner remedies, and noted support from sheriffs and realtors. The transcript cuts off before the bill’s full presentation or any committee action on HB 10.

Transcript Highlights:

• That means nothing except perhaps when it goes to legal consideration.
• That means nothing except perhaps when it goes to legal consideration.
• Just for the senators, what can we expect when it hits the floor?
• Fitzgibbon stood up and said that he's... on the floor last night was when Rep.
• As I pointed out on the floor, you know, the U.S.

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a media availability on day 59 of the session focused mainly on the House-passed income tax on high earners, the pending operating and transportation budgets, and several late-session tax and policy bills. Republicans argued the income tax was unconstitutional under existing state precedent, would lead to capital flight and broader tax expansion, and was being rushed through without adequate public input. They also criticized the budget process as overspending revenues, relying on gimmicks, and setting up future deficits and tax increases. The leaders said the House was preparing to consider a transportation bond bill requiring a three-fifths vote, along with bills on data centers, pharmaceutical wholesale taxes, K-12 funding, highway construction, direct electric vehicle sales, abortion-related funding, and an electric transmission measure. They said Democrats could pass the bond bill without Republican votes if all 59 House Democrats supported it, but Republicans opposed bonding for maintenance and preservation. They also said the budget could be balanced even if some of the tax bills failed. Much of the discussion centered on the 24-hour House debate over the income tax, which Republicans said they extended to force daylight debate and highlight objections. They said the bill passed by two votes and that several Democrats privately opposed it. Republicans also criticized the use of Climate Commitment Act funds in the budget, saying the money should be returned to taxpayers or used for transportation or the Working Families Tax Credit rather than special interests. In closing, they said House Republicans had been successful in opposite-house cutoff, killing 54% of Senate bills sent to the House and helping produce one of the lowest numbers of bills passed in years.